The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-10-29

HENRY W. RUGG, JOHN B. MuLLIKEN.
VIM. II. RYDER, JACOB W HOYsRADr.
ELMER ii. CAPEN, Trustees
SPECIAL REPORT OF THE BOARD OF
TRUSTEES.
At the Akron session of the Conyen
ton several propositions were referred
to the Board Of Trustees as special
Committee, for consideration and report
at the present session.
The proposal to amend Article VII. of
the Laws of Fellowship, Government and
Discipline, Section by striking out zone
year" and inserting ''three months" The
effect would be to provide that though
Committees Of Fellowship may deem that
there is sufficient ground for charges
against the applicant for Transfer, il such
charges are not formally laid within three
months, the Committee shall issue a let
ter of transfer Notwithstanding. In To
1880, the laws provided that "no letter of
transfer should be allowed il there
should be within the personal or official
knowledge Of such Committee, or of either
OF them, anything to affect his standing
at that time" This law was relaxed in
1880, by the provision that "sucr letter
of transfer shall not be withheld for
more than one year from the time of such
application, unless charges shall have
been preferred in due form" Possibly
hardship has been wrought in an indi-
vidual instance, but in the Judgment of
the Board it is not wise further to con-
troll the action of the Committees of Eel.
lowship in this particular, and we rec
ommend the rejection of the amendment
proposed.
The following was adopted at the
Akron session: "Resolved, That the
Board of Trustees be requested to con-
slider the advisability of forming a Tenn
perance Association to be known as the
Universalist Church Temperance Society,
of this Convention" The record of the
Universalist Church from the beginning,
as to movements in the interest of Tenn
perance has been in line with that of the
most advanced philanthropists and re-
formers. 1t was one of its own members,
the distinguished DIR. Benjamin Rasb,
who, hundred years ago, first formulat-
ed the present principles of Temperance
Reform, and who was the means of organ
izing the movement for total abstinence
from intoxicating beverages, as the only
remedy for drunkenness, and the only
foundation for public reformation on this
line OF evil.
The declarations of the General Con-
vention on this subject have been broad
and unqualified. No sister organization
is in advance of it in this particular. It's
utterances have been consistent, and
made with cordial unanimity. Witness
the strong resolutions adopted at Akron
in connection with that above cited.
One evil, however, needs to be guard
ed against; the multiplication of organic
atoms in connection with our church and
parish work. Notwithstanding the es-
timsted value OF Church Temperance
Society, it is deemed hardly prudent
to add to the number of organizations
demanding and dividing the attention
of our people, in their social capacity.
Let our people generally affiliate with
Christian people of every name, in their
LEGAL and general temperance work. Let
all be active in every wise effort to adj
vance the day when intemperaDce shall
be banished from the land. And this
may as practically be done in connec-
ton with unsectarian organizations as
with those representing separate churches,
perhaps with more effect.
We cannot recommend the formation
of a so-called Church Temperance Soci-
ciety. If it is deemed wise to provide for
biennial, instead Of annual, sessions of
the Convention, and the occupancy of a
greater number OF days at each session,
there would be opportunity for the more
extended discussion Of the subject OF
and of other important